New social studies curriculum in place: U.S. history no longer repeats itself

Call me crazy, but it looks like a bunch of ultra-conservatives are hell-bent on force-feeding good, clean history filled with Judeo-Christian values to the public school system.

As some may know, the Texas board of education approved the change in the state’s social studies curriculum in early March of this year.

The proposed changes are drastic and include fewer mentions of Thomas Jefferson among the founding fathers, questioning the implementation of separation of church and state and claims of Communist infiltration of U.S. government during the Cold War.

Other issues discussed led to decisions like more focus being placed on President Reagan, hip-hop not being discussed as a part of American culture and lessons of McCarthyism should now note that later release of the Venona papers confirmed suspicion of communist infiltration within the U.S. government.
(Historians believe the Venona papers are disputable in regards to Soviet involvement in the American government).

The new curriculum also asserts the Christian faith of the founding fathers, although historians say the founding fathers represented a variety of religions and personal beliefs.

Many historians say some of the founding fathers, including Jefferson, actually led very secular lives. The changes are expected to receive final approval in May.

Texas’s large size and booming textbook production will contribute to this new distribution of “knowledge.”

According to the Washington Post, textbooks assigned to the state’s 4.7 million students often reach the top of the market, becoming the cheapest option for school districts throughout the country.

This makes the curriculum change all the more detrimental, as it now has the opportunity to spread at the national level.

History is not like a buffet. You cannot pick out what you like and ignore what you do not like, especially when it comes to educating today’s youth.

All aspects of our history should be covered because history has paved the way for the present. Students deserve exposure to differing viewpoints in order to gain a well-rounded education.

People want to argue history is circumstantial and if it is revised every 10 years anyway, who is to say we are receiving a sufficient history education.
If we have documentation and adequate evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt something in history happened, it should be taught, regardless of whether people agree with it.

This goes for war history, civil rights history and the evolution of species. People are entitled to their opinion. You don’t have to believe what you learn, but do not withhold knowledge from those who wish to obtain it.

And to the individuals who voted in favor of the curriculum change, and to those of you who agree with the changes: Feel free to shove your heads deeper in to the sand. May you suffocate on your own ignorance.